UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 15, 2011
HARTE-HANKS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-7120 | 74-1677284 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
9601 McAllister Freeway, Suite 610
San Antonio, Texas 78216
(210) 829-9000
(Address of principal executive offices and Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
On March 15, 2011, the Board of Directors of Harte-Hanks, Inc. approved amendments to the severance benefits available to its named executive officers (and other corporate officers) under certain circumstances. These new terms are embodied in a new severance agreement with each such officer. These severance agreements are designed to attract and retain key talent by providing compensation in the event of a change in control of Harte-Hanks. The Board of Directors also approved a new form of agreement for named executive officers (and other corporate officers) to provide standardized non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and other restrictive covenants in favor of Harte-Hanks.
Harte-Hanks previously entered into severance agreements with each of its named executive officers and other corporate officers. Harte-Hanks severance agreement with Mr. Peter E. Gorman (Executive Vice President and President, Shoppers) also provided compensation in certain non-change in control circumstances, reflecting Mr. Gormans position at the time he first entered such agreement and the then-current terms applicable to similarly situated executives.
The severance agreements were amended to better reflect current best practices for corporate governance while still providing significant retention and motivation incentives. The amendments effected by the new agreements: (1) remove any excise-tax gross-up relating to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (2) remove the modified single-trigger feature (which allowed executive officers to receive severance compensation after a change in control without a termination of employment either (x) without cause or (y) for good reason); (3) broaden the definition of cause; (4) increase the multiple of annual salary and bonus payable as severance compensation (from 1.0 to 1.5 for our Vice Presidents, from 2.0 to 2.5 for our Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents, and from 2.0 to 3.0 for our Chief Executive Officer); (5) increase the reimbursement made in respect of COBRA expenses; and (6) add an acknowledgement that certain payments may be subject to clawback or recoupment of in connection with financial or other misdeeds. In contrast to the severance agreements with other named executive officers, Mr. Gormans new severance agreement still provides for compensation in certain non-change in control circumstances.
These new severance and restrictive covenant agreements with the companys named executive officers were effective March 15, 2011.
The foregoing description of compensatory arrangements and the changes thereto does not purport to be a complete description of such arrangements, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements, which are filed as exhibits to this Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference in this Item 5.02(e).
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is being filed herewith:
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
10.1 | Form of Amended & Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its Corporate Officers (other than Peter E. Gorman) | |
10.2 | Form of Amended & Restated Severance Agreement between the Company and Peter E. Gorman | |
10.3 | Form of Employment Restrictions Agreement between the Company and its Corporate Officers |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Harte-Hanks, Inc. | ||
Dated: March 15, 2011 | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert L. R. Munden |
|
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
10.1 | Form of Amended & Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its Corporate Officers (other than Peter E. Gorman) | |
10.2 | Form of Amended & Restated Severance Agreement between the Company and Peter E. Gorman | |
10.3 | Form of Employment Restrictions Agreement between the Company and its Corporate Officers |
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED & RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED & RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made as of , 20 , between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), and (the Executive ).
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as of the Company;
[WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into that certain Severance Agreement dated (the Prior Agreement )] 1 ;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board ) recognizes that the Executives contribution to the growth and success of the Company has been substantial and wishes to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to amend the benefits to be received by the Executive in the event of termination; and
[WHEREAS, as consideration for, and as a condition to, the execution of this Agreement, Executive will execute an [Employment Restrictions Agreement], in a form provided by the Company.] 2
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, this Agreement sets forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of termination of Executives employment under the circumstances described herein:
1. | Term . The term of this Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and continue until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the second anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in Control, (b) the Executives death, or (c) the Executives earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(ii)) (the Term ). |
2. | Definitions . |
(a) | Cause . For Cause means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have: |
(i) | committed an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company; |
1 |
To be included/inserted as appropriate based on whether the agreement is in relation to a new hire or promotion. |
2 |
To be included/inserted as appropriate based on whether the agreement is in relation to a new hire or promotion, and depending on the name and terms of the agreement. |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 1
(ii) | committed intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; |
(iii) | committed intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company; |
(iv) | been convicted of, or entered a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; |
(v) | committed a material breach of the Companys insider trading, corporate ethics and compliance policies, or any other board-adopted policies applicable to management conduct; or |
(vi) | committed substantial, willful and repeated failures to perform duties which (x) are appropriate for Executives position as reasonably instructed by (or on behalf of) the Board in writing, and (y) have not been cured within 30 days of Executives receipt of notice of such failures. |
For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive will be deemed intentional unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
(b) | Change in Control . A Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur: |
(i) | the Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such transaction; |
(ii) | the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such sale; |
(iii) |
any person (including any person as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act )), has become the beneficial owner (as the term beneficial owner is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 2
when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; |
(iv) | individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board ) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election by the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or |
(v) | such other events that cause a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. |
(c) | Code . The Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
(d) | Disability . Disability shall have the meaning given to disability in the Companys long-term disability insurance plan. |
(e) | Payment Date . Payment Date shall mean the earlier to occur of the date (i) 30 days following the Termination Date or (ii) five days from the date Executive delivers an executed release in accordance with Section 6, in each case subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee. |
(f) |
Severance Compensation . The Severance Compensation shall be a lump sum cash amount equal to the product of 3 multiplied by the sum of (i) the annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is larger, plus (ii) the average of the bonus or incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs, whichever is larger. |
(g) | Termination Date . The Termination Date shall be the date upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the employment of the Executive and such termination constitutes a separation from service, as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code. |
3 |
Insert 1.5 for Vice Presidents; 2.5 for Senior or Executive Vice Presidents; 3.0 for Chief Executive Officer. |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 3
3. | Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination . |
(a) | Provided the Executive has executed and delivered the release described in Section 6 below, the Company shall provide Severance Compensation to the Executive on the Payment Date in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events shall occur: |
(i) | the Company terminates the Executives employment ( i.e. , the Executive separates from service) during the Term other than for any of the following reasons: |
(1) | the Executive dies; |
(2) | the Executive suffers a Disability and is unable to work (with or without reasonable accommodation); or |
(3) | for Cause; |
(ii) | the Executive terminates his or her employment ( i.e. , separates from service) after such Change in Control during the Term and a material adverse change in the employment relationship without the Executives consent, which shall include the occurrence of at least one of the following events: |
(1) | a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, functions or duties attached to the position with the Company that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(2) | a reduction in the Executives salary, bonus or incentive compensation or a significant reduction in scope or value of other monetary or non-monetary benefits (other than benefits pursuant to a broad based employee benefit plan) to which the Executive was entitled from the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(3) | a determination by the Executive made in good faith that as a result of a Change in Control and a change in circumstances thereafter, he has been rendered substantially unable to carry out, or has been substantially hindered in the performance of, the authorities, functions or duties attached to his position immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(4) | the Company shall require the Executive to materially relocate his principal location of work from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties significantly more than required of him prior to the Change in Control; or |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 4
(5) | the Company commits any material breach of this Agreement; |
provided, however, that with regard to each change described above, the Executive must provide written notice to the Company within 90 days of the occurrence of such change, and the Company shall have 30 days in which to cure.
(b) | Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be subject to set-off or mitigation. |
(c) | Upon a Change in Control, all equity-based awards previously granted by the Company to the Executive and not yet exercised will become vested and fully exercisable by the Executive. Such equity-based awards shall remain exercisable for their original term; provided, however, that the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise such equity-based awards that are subject to exercise within 90 days after receipt of written notice to the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his or her equity-based awards within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel such equity-based awards. Awards that have been structured to vest on a performance basis shall accelerate and vest at the 100% level established for such awards regardless of whether the 100% performance level has been or will be achieved. |
(d) | In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay the Executive the Severance Compensation, the Company shall also pay the Executive on the Payment Date a lump sum cash payment in the amount equivalent to continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Companys group health insurance plan for a period of 24 months, provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 6 below. |
(e) |
In the event that any payments to which Executive becomes entitled in accordance with this Agreement would constitute a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code, then such payments, when added to any other payments made to Executive that would constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code will be subject to reduction to the extent necessary to assure that Executive receives only the greater of (i) the amount of those payments which would not exceed 2.99 times Executives base amount within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or (ii) the amount which yields Executive the greatest after-tax amount after taking into account any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code on and excess parachute payments provided to Executive under this Agreement and on any other benefits or payments to which Executive may be entitled in connection with the Change in Control or the subsequent termination of Executives employment. Any reduction in Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3(e) shall be accomplished in the following manner: first , by |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 5
reducing the payment required pursuant to Section 2(f); if necessary, second by reducing the payment required by Section 3(d); if necessary, third , by reducing the vesting of equity-based awards pursuant to Section 3(c) (in an order among such equity-based awards as is reasonably acceptable to Executive). |
4. | Successors, Binding Agreement . This Agreement will be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees. |
5. | Notice . The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given only if (i) delivered personally or by overnight courier, (ii) delivered by facsimile transmission with answer back confirmation, (iii) mailed (postage prepaid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) (effective upon actual receipt), or (iv) delivered by electronic communication to the address below. An electronic communication ( Electronic Notice ) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this letter if sent with return receipt requested to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a non-electronic form ( Non-electronic Notice ) which shall be sent to the requesting party within five days after receipt of the written request for Non-electronic Notice. Any party from time to time may change its address, facsimile number, electronic mail address, or other information for the purpose of notices to that party by giving written notice specifying such change to the other party hereto. |
If to the Executive:
[Executive] c/o Harte-Hanks, Inc. |
||
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||
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||
|
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If to the Company:
Harte-Hanks, Inc. 9601 McAllister Freeway Suite 610 San Antonio, Texas 78216 Attention: General Counsel Email: robert_munden@harte-hanks.com |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 6
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
6. | Release . In consideration for the benefits and payments provided for under Sections 3(a) and 3(d) of this Agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute a release acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries, stockholders, partners, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executives employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his Termination Date. |
7. | Miscellaneous . No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically referred to herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Texas (to the extent not preempted by federal law), without regard to principles of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces the Prior Agreement and any other prior agreement between the Company and the Executive providing for benefits upon separation, severance or change in control. |
8. | Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. |
9. |
Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an executive officer of the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive without Cause immediately upon the consummation of a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice, terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 7
employment of the Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder. |
10. | Withholding of Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling; provided, however, that no withholding pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code shall be made unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code. |
11. | Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a specified employee (as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code) as of the Termination Date, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions under Section 409A of the Code) and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments under this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the first day following the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date, or (b) the Executives date of death. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each payment (as defined by Section 409A of the Code) made under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment. In addition, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, payments shall be deemed exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the full extent possible under the short-term deferral exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and (with respect to amounts paid no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Termination Date) the two-years/two-times separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference. |
12. |
Extension of Restrictive Covenants . Executive agrees that if Executive receives Severance Compensation, the time periods for the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants contained in Executives [Employment Restrictions Agreement dated ] 4 (the ERA ) shall be extended to be a period of years equal to the multiple specified in 2(f) for calculation of Severance Compensation, in each case (i) only to the extent such period is longer than that the one already established for such covenant under the ERA, and (ii) subject to Article Six of the ERA. Executive agrees that the ERA is necessary to protect the Companys confidential and proprietary information and business goodwill. Executive further acknowledges that the time, geographic and scope limitations of the restrictive covenants in the ERA, as extended hereby in the event that Executive is to receive Severance Compensation, are reasonable, especially in light of the Companys desire to protect its confidential and proprietary information, and that Executive will not be precluded from gainful employment pursuant to his non-competition and other obligations as provided in ERA, as extended hereby in the event that Executive is to receive Severance Compensation. |
4 |
To be included/inserted as appropriate based on whether the agreement is in relation to a new hire or promotion, and depending on the name and terms of the agreement. |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 8
13. | Compensation Recoupment . Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act ), the Severance Compensation shall not be deemed fully earned or vested, even if paid or distributed to Executive, if the Severance Compensation or any portion thereof is deemed incentive compensation and subject to recovery, or clawback by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or by any stock exchange on which the Companys securities are listed (the Rules ). In addition, Executive hereby acknowledges that this Agreement may be amended as necessary and/or shall be subject to any recoupment policies adopted by the Company to comply with the requirements and/or limitations under the Act and the Rules, or any other federal or stock exchange requirements, including by expressly permitting (or, if applicable, requiring) the Company to revoke, recover and/or clawback the Severance Compensation. |
[Signature page follows]
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Severance Agreement effective on the date and year first above written.
HARTE-HANKS, INC. | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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EXECUTIVE | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 10
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDED & RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED & RESTATED SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made as of March , 2011, between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), and Peter E. Gorman (the Executive ).
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as Executive Vice President and President, Shoppers of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into that certain Severance Agreement dated June 27, 2008 (the Prior Agreement );
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board ) recognizes that the Executives contribution to the growth and success of the Company has been substantial and wishes to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to amend the benefits to be received by the Executive in the event of termination; and
WHEREAS, as consideration for, and as a condition to, the execution of this Agreement, Executive will execute an Employment Restrictions Agreement, in a form provided by the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein, as well as Executives execution of the Employment Restrictions Agreement, this Agreement sets forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of termination of Executives employment under the circumstances described herein:
1. | Term . Except as otherwise provided in Section 4, which shall be effective on the date hereof and shall continue until the until the earlier of the occurrence of one of the events specified in clauses (b) and (c), the term of this Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and continue until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the second anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in Control, (b) the Executives death, or (c) the Executives earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(ii)) (the Term ). |
2. | Definitions . |
(a) | Cause . For Cause means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have: |
(i) | committed an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company; |
(ii) | committed intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 1
(iii) | committed intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company; |
(iv) | been convicted of, or entered a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; |
(v) | committed a material breach of the Companys insider trading, corporate ethics and compliance policies, or any other board-adopted policies applicable to management conduct; or |
(vi) | committed substantial, willful and repeated failures to perform duties which (x) are appropriate for Executives position as reasonably instructed by (or on behalf of) the Board in writing, and (y) have not been cured within 30 days of Executives receipt of notice of such failures. |
For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive will be deemed intentional unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
(b) | Change in Control . A Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur: |
(i) | the Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such transaction; |
(ii) | the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such sale; |
(iii) | any person (including any person as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act )), has become the beneficial owner (as the term beneficial owner is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 2
(iv) | individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board ) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election by the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or |
(v) | such other events that cause a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. |
(c) | Code . The Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
(d) | Disability . Disability shall have the meaning given to disability in the Companys long-term disability insurance plan. |
(e) | Payment Date . Payment Date shall mean the earlier to occur of the date (i) 30 days following the Termination Date or (ii) five days from the date Executive delivers an executed release in accordance with Section 7, in each case subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a specified employee. |
(f) | Severance Compensation . The Severance Compensation shall be a lump sum cash amount equal to the product of 2.5 multiplied by the sum of (i) the annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is larger, plus (ii) the average of the bonus or incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs, whichever is larger. |
(g) | Termination Date . The Termination Date shall be the date upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the employment of the Executive and such termination constitutes a separation from service, as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code. |
3. | Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination . |
(a) | Provided the Executive (or his legal representative in the case of death or Disability) has executed and delivered the release described in Section 7 below, the Company shall provide Severance Compensation to the Executive on the Payment Date in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events shall occur: |
(i) | the Company terminates the Executives employment (i.e., the Executive separates from service) during the Term other than for any of the following reasons: |
(1) | the Executive dies; |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 3
(2) | the Executive suffers a Disability and is unable to work (with or without reasonable accommodation); or |
(3) | for Cause; or |
(ii) | the Executive terminates his employment ( i.e. , separates from service) after such Change in Control during the Term and a material adverse change in the employment relationship without the Executives consent, which shall include the occurrence of at least one of the following events: |
(1) | a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, functions or duties attached to the position with the Company that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(2) | a reduction in the Executives salary, bonus or incentive compensation or a significant reduction in scope or value of other monetary or non-monetary benefits (other than benefits pursuant to a broad based employee benefit plan) to which the Executive was entitled from the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(3) | a determination by the Executive made in good faith that as a result of a Change in Control and a change in circumstances thereafter, he has been rendered substantially unable to carry out, or has been substantially hindered in the performance of, the authorities, functions or duties attached to his position immediately prior to the Change in Control; |
(4) | the Company shall require the Executive to materially relocate his principal location of work from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties significantly more than required of him prior to the Change in Control; or |
(5) | the Company commits any material breach of this Agreement; |
provided, however , that with regard to each change described above, the Executive must provide written notice to the Company within 90 days of the occurrence of such change, and the Company shall have 30 days in which to cure.
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 4
(b) | Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be subject to set-off or mitigation. |
(c) | Upon a Change in Control, or in the event the Company becomes obligated to pay the Executive Severance Compensation pursuant to Section 4(a), all equity-based awards previously granted by the Company to the Executive and not yet exercised will become vested and fully exercisable by the Executive. Such equity-based awards shall remain exercisable for their original term; provided, however , that the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise such equity-based awards that are subject to exercise within 90 days after receipt of written notice to the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his equity-based awards within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel such equity-based awards. Awards that have been structured to vest on a performance basis shall accelerate and vest at the 100% level established for such awards regardless of whether the 100% performance level has been or will be achieved. |
(d) | In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay the Executive Severance Compensation, the Company shall also pay the Executive on the Payment Date a lump sum cash payment in the amount equivalent to continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Companys group health insurance plan for a period of 24 months, provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 7 below. |
(e) | In the event that any payments to which Executive becomes entitled in accordance with this Agreement would constitute a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code, then such payments, when added to any other payments made to Executive that would constitute parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code will be subject to reduction to the extent necessary to assure that Executive receives only the greater of (i) the amount of those payments which would not exceed 2.99 times Executives base amount within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or (ii) the amount which yields Executive the greatest after-tax amount after taking into account any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code on and excess parachute payments provided to Executive under this Agreement and on any other benefits or payments to which Executive may be entitled in connection with the Change in Control or the subsequent termination of Executives employment. Any reduction in Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3(e) shall be accomplished in the following manner: first, by reducing the payment required pursuant to Section 2(f); if necessary, second by reducing the payment required by Section 3(d); if necessary, third, by reducing the vesting of equity-based awards pursuant to Section 3(c) (in an order among such equity-based awards as is reasonably acceptable to Executive). |
4. | Additional Rights of Executive Prior to Change in Control . |
(a) |
In the event the employment of the Executive with the Company is terminated prior to a Change in Control, the Company shall provide the Executive, within ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 5
specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed and delivered the release described in Section 7 below, Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, and only if: |
(i) | the Company terminates the Executives employment without Justification (as defined herein); or |
(ii) | the Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason (as defined herein). |
(b) | Justification means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have (i) committed an act of fraud, dishonesty, gross misconduct or other unethical practices, or (ii) materially failed to perform his duties to the satisfaction of the chief executive officer of the Company, which failure has not been cured within 60 days after receipt of written notice from the chief executive officer. |
(c) | With Good Reason means that the Executive shall have terminated his employment following a material adverse reduction (which is instituted without his consent and which is not cured within 30 days after the Executive delivers written notice of objection to the chief executive officer within 90 days of the occurrence of the reduction) in his functions, duties or responsibilities (i) to a level that is not commensurate with those of an executive in the position of the Executive prior to such reduction (it being understood that the reassignment of any of the Executives functions, duties or responsibilities to one or more persons who report directly or indirectly to the Executive is not such a reduction), or (ii) which causes the Executives position with the Company to become one of lesser importance or scope, as evidenced by (1) a material diminution in authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (2) a material change in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the Executives supervisor. |
5. | Successors, Binding Agreement . This Agreement will be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees. |
6. |
Notice . The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given only if (i) delivered personally or by overnight courier, (ii) delivered by facsimile transmission with answer back confirmation, (iii) mailed (postage prepaid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) (effective upon actual receipt), or (iv) delivered by electronic communication to the address below. An electronic communication ( Electronic Notice ) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this letter if sent with return receipt requested to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 6
Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a non-electronic form ( Non-electronic Notice ) which shall be sent to the requesting party within five days after receipt of the written request for Non-electronic Notice. Any party from time to time may change its address, facsimile number, electronic mail address, or other information for the purpose of notices to that party by giving written notice specifying such change to the other party hereto. |
If to the Executive:
or
at the address of his then-current principal office at the Company
If to the Company:
Harte-Hanks, Inc.
9601 McAllister Freeway
Suite 610
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
7. | Release . In consideration for the benefits and payments provided for under Sections 3 or 4 of this Agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute (or in the case Executive has suffered death or a Disability, his legal representative) a release and covenant not to sue acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents and the like from any and all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executives employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his Termination Date. |
8. | Miscellaneous . No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically referred to |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 7
herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Texas (to the extent not preempted by federal law), without regard to principles of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces the Prior Agreement and any other prior agreement between the Company and the Executive providing for benefits upon separation, severance or change in control. |
9. | Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. |
10. | Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an executive officer of the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive without Cause immediately upon the consummation of a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice, terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the employment of the Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder. |
11. | Withholding of Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling; provided, however, that no withholding pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code shall be made unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code. |
12. | Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a specified employee (as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code) as of the Termination Date, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions under Section 409A of the Code) and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments under this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the first day following the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date, or (b) the Executives date of death. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each payment (as defined by Section 409A of the Code) made under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment. In addition, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, payments shall be deemed exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the full extent possible under the short-term deferral exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 8
and (with respect to amounts paid no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Termination Date) the two-years/two-times separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference. |
13. | Extension of Restrictive Covenants . Executive agrees that if Executive receives Severance Compensation, the time periods for the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants contained in Executives Employment Restrictions Agreement dated March , 2011 (the ERA ) shall be extended to be a period of years equal to the multiple specified in 2(f) for calculation of Severance Compensation, in each case (i) only to the extent such period is longer than that the one already established for such covenant under the ERA, and (ii) subject to Article Six of the ERA. Executive agrees that the ERA is necessary to protect the Companys confidential and proprietary information and business goodwill. Executive further acknowledges that the time, geographic and scope limitations of the restrictive covenants in the ERA, as extended hereby in the event that Executive is to receive Severance Compensation, are reasonable, especially in light of the Companys desire to protect its confidential and proprietary information, and that Executive will not be precluded from gainful employment pursuant to his non-competition and other obligations as provided in ERA, as extended hereby in the event that Executive is to receive Severance Compensation. |
14. | Compensation Recoupment . Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act ), the Severance Compensation shall not be deemed fully earned or vested, even if paid or distributed to Executive, if the Severance Compensation or any portion thereof is deemed incentive compensation and subject to recovery, or clawback by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or by any stock exchange on which the Companys securities are listed (the Rules ). In addition, Executive hereby acknowledges that this Agreement may be amended as necessary and/or shall be subject to any recoupment policies adopted by the Company to comply with the requirements and/or limitations under the Act and the Rules, or any other federal or stock ex-change requirements, including by expressly permitting (or, if applicable, requiring) the Company to revoke, recover and/or clawback the Severance Compensation. |
[signature page follows]
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended & Restated Severance Agreement effective on the date and year first above written.
HARTE-HANKS, INC. | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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|
Title: |
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EXECUTIVE | ||
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Peter E. Gorman |
Amended & Restated Severance Agreement - Page 10
Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT
This Employment Restrictions Agreement (this Agreement ) is made and entered into between Employer (as defined in herein) and ( Employee ) and is effective as of (the Effective Date ).
In consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Employee and Employer, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. | A RTICLE O NE : D EFINITIONS |
Section 1.1 Competitive Business means any Person (including Employee), and any parent, subsidiary, partner, agent, or affiliate of any Person, that engages in, or plans to become engaged in, the development, design, production, manufacture, promotion, marketing, sale, support or service of a Competitive Service (as defined herein), Competitive Service Support (as defined herein), or any other product, good, process, or service that has been or is being developed, designed, produced, manufactured, marketed, promoted, sold, licensed or serviced by any Person other than Employer or Employers Affiliates that would compete with or displace any services or products sold or being developed for sale by Employer or Employers Affiliates during Employees employment with Employer or engages in any other activities so similar in nature or purpose to those of Employer that they would displace business opportunities or customers of Employer [ , which include (without limitation) the [ following entities: ] [ each company named in the peer group of the Companys then-current annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ]] .
Section 1.2 Competitive Service means any service, process, solution or product that has been or is being developed, designed, produced, manufactured, marketed, promoted, sold, offered, licensed or serviced by any Person other than Employer or Employers Affiliates that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any Employee-Related Service (as defined herein).
Section 1.3 Competitive Service Support means any research, development, analysis, planning or support services of any kind or nature, including, without limitation, theoretical, applied, business, technical, regulatory, or systems research, analysis, planning, or support for or by any Person other than Employer or Employers Affiliates that is intended for, or may be useful in, assisting, improving or enhancing any aspect of the development, design, production, manufacture, marketing, promotion, sale, support or service of a Competitive Service.
Section 1.4 Confidential Information means information of any kind, nature, or description, that (i) relates to Employers or Employers Affiliates business; (ii) provides Employer or Employers Affiliates economic value or any business advantage; (iii) is not generally known to the public; and (iv) is learned or developed by the Employee as a direct or indirect result of or during the course of the Employees employment with Employer. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, Employer or Employers Affiliates trade
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 1
secrets, and Inventions and may also relate to, without limitation, any customer; business, merchandise, or marketing procedures, processes and services; hardware; software; research; marketing; developments; products; product lines; design; purchasing; finances and financial affairs; accounting; merchandising; selling; engineering; employees; training; business practices; business plans; business strategies; acquisitions; potential acquisitions; customer lists; customer contact lists; information provided by customers of Employer or Employers Affiliates; proprietary information; employee lists; employee compensation information; vendor lists; supplier lists; pricing; pricing agreements; merchandise resources; supply resources; service resources; system designs; procedures manuals; policies; non-public personal information and protected health information about consumers; social security numbers; drivers license numbers (or state or federal identification card numbers); financial account numbers; credit or debit card numbers; the prices Employer or Employers Affiliates obtain or have obtained or at which they sell or have sold their services or products; or the name of Employer or Employers Affiliates personnel and those to whom the personnel report.
Section 1.5 Employee-Related Service means goods, processes, or services that have been or are being developed, designed, produced, manufactured, marketed, promoted, sold, licensed or serviced by Employer or Employers Affiliates that either (i) relate to the services the Employee performed as an employee for Employer at any time in the 12 months immediately preceding the Employees last day of employment with Employer; or (ii) that the Employee had access to Confidential Information at any time in the 12 months immediately preceding the Employees last day of employment with Employer.
Section 1.6 Employer means [Harte-Hanks, Inc.] [or appropriate subsidiary] .
Section 1.7 Employers Affiliates means Harte-Hanks, Inc. and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which a majority of equity interests is now or at any time afterward owned, directly or indirectly, by Harte-Hanks, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
Section 1.8 Inventions means any and all inventions, discoveries, concepts, and ideas, whether or not patentable, including, without limitation, devices, processes, methods, formulas, techniques, improvements, modifications or know-how related thereto, that relate to any part of Employers or Employers Affiliates business or any business contemplated by Employer or Employers Affiliates, that is conceived or developed by Employee during employment or thereafter. Any invention conceived or developed after the termination of Employees employment shall be deemed an Invention in accordance with this Agreement if such invention is based, derived from, or related to work performed by Employee during his or her Employment or Employers Confidential Information. All drawings, manuals, correspondence, notebooks, reports, and other like materials and information relating to Inventions shall be deemed part of the Invention for purposes of this Agreement.
Section 1.9 Person means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an estate, a trust, or any other entity or organization.
Section 1.10 Restricted Customer means those persons to which Employer has sold, negotiated for sales, marketed, attempted to or actually promoted or provided products or
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 2
services to at any time during the 12 months immediately prior to Employees last day of employment, and with respect to which Employee has participated in any efforts related to the sales, marketing, negotiation or provision of goods or services, had contact with or supervised employees who had contact with, or received Confidential Information about within the 12 months immediately prior to Employees last day of employment.
Section 1.11 trade secrets means any formula, pattern, device or compilation of information that generally facilitates the provision of services or sale of products, increases revenues, or provides an advantage over the competition, is not generally known, and is identified as such
2. | A RTICLE T WO : E MPLOYER /E MPLOYEE C OVENANTS . |
Section 2.1 Employer Covenants . Upon the execution of this Agreement by both parties, Employer will place the Employee in a position of special trust, and will provide the Employee with: (a) Confidential Information and access to such information; (b) specialized training, including self study materials and course work, classroom training, on-line training, on-the-job training, and instruction as to Employers products, services and methods of operations; and (c) goodwill support such as expense reimbursements in accordance with Employers policies, Confidential Information related to Employers current and prospective clients, customers, business associates, vendors and suppliers, and/or contact and relationships with current and potential clients, customers and business associates, in order to help the Employee develop goodwill for Employer. The foregoing is not contingent upon continued employment of the Employee for any length of time, but is contingent upon the Employee not working for or assisting a Competitive Business (as defined herein) and the Employees full compliance with the restrictions in Articles 2 and 3. The Employee specifically acknowledges that the items described in (a), (b) and (c) above will be items that the Employee has not previously been given and that the Employee would not be given but for the execution of this Agreement.
Section 2.2 Employee Covenants . The Employee agrees not to, directly or indirectly, participate in the unauthorized use, disclosure or conversion of any Confidential Information. Specifically, but without limitation, the Employee agrees not to use Confidential Information for his sole benefit, or for the benefit of any person or entity in any other way that harms Employer or diminishes the value of the Confidential Information to Employer. Employee also agrees to use the specialized training, goodwill and contacts developed with Employers customers and contractors for the exclusive benefit of Employer, and agrees not to use these items at any time in a way that would harm the business interests of Employer.
Section 2.3 [Settlement of Rights . By this Agreement, Employer is providing the Employee with rights that the Employee did not previously have. In exchange for the foregoing and the additional terms agreed to in this Agreement, if the Employee is an existing employee of Employer, Employee agrees that (a) he is being provided with access to Confidential Information, specialized training and Employers goodwill with its customers and other persons, to which he has not previously had access; (b) all goodwill developed with Employers clients, customers and other business contacts by the Employee during past employment with Employer are the exclusive property of Employer, and (c) the Confidential Information and specialized training received by the Employee during past employment with Employer will be
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 3
used only for the benefit of Employer. The Employee waives and releases any claim that he should be able to use, for the benefit of any competing person or entity, client and customer goodwill, specialized training, or Confidential Information, that was previously received or developed by the Employee while working for Employer.]
Section 2.4 Goodwill with Customers . The Employee acknowledges that Employer and Employers Affiliates have near permanent relationships with their customers and own the goodwill in the Employees relationships with customers that the Employee will or has developed or maintained in the course and scope of the Employees employment with Employer. If the Employee owned goodwill in a relationship with a customer when the Employee commenced employment with Employer, the Employee assigns any and all such goodwill to Employer, and Employer shall become the owner of such goodwill.
Section 2.5 Employers Property . All documents and things provided to the Employee by Employer or Employers Affiliates for use in connection with the Employees employment, or created by the Employee in the course and scope of the Employees employment with Employer, are the sole property of Employer or Employers Affiliates and shall be held by the Employee as a fiduciary on behalf of Employer. Immediately upon termination of the Employees employmentwithout the requirement of a prior demand by Employerthe Employee shall surrender to Employer all such documents and things, including, but not limited to, all Confidential Information and all documents and things related to Restricted Customers (as defined herein) or Employee-Related Service (as defined herein), together with all copies, recording abstracts, notes, reproductions or electronic versions of any kind made from or about the documents and things and the information they contain.
Section 2.6 Duty of Loyalty . The Employee understands that by virtue of employment with Employer, the Employee owes Employer a duty of loyalty and agrees to treat all Confidential Information, training, relationships with customers, goodwill, and property entrusted to the Employee as a fiduciary. The Employee agrees to use such training and maintain and protect such Confidential Information, customer relationships, goodwill, and property solely for Employers benefit. The Employee further agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall limit, in any way, the fiduciary duties that the Employee owes to Employer under any applicable law, apart from this Agreement.
3. | A RTICLE T HREE : P ROTECTIVE C OVENANTS . |
The Employee agrees that the following covenants are reasonable and necessary agreements for the protection of the business interests covered in the fully enforceable, ancillary agreements set forth in this Agreement, including those in Article Two above.
Section 3.1 Non-Competition . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall notdirectly or indirectlybe employed by, supervise, assist, perform services, work, or otherwise engage in activities for a Competitive Business in any capacity that relates to any Competitive Service or Competitive Service Support anywhere in the United States or in any foreign country in which Employer or Employers Affiliates are then marketing or selling services, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 4
because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer. Employee may not avoid the purpose and intent of this paragraph by engaging in conduct within the geographically limited area from a remote location through means such as telecommunications, written correspondence, computer generated or assisted communications, or other similar methods.
Section 3.2 Non-Solicitation of Employees/Contractors . The Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 24 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, the Employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit, cause to be solicited, assist or otherwise be involved with the solicitation of, any employee, contractor or other person to terminate that persons employment, contract or relationship with Employer or to breach that persons employment agreement or contract with Employer. Further, the Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 24 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, recruit, solicit, or participate or assist any person or entity in hiring, recruiting or soliciting, any individual who was an employee or contractor during the 6-month period immediately following such employee or contractors termination of employment, contract or relationship with Employer.
Section 3.3 Non-Solicitation of Customers . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall noton behalf of a Competitive Businessdirectly or indirectly solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, supervise, assist or otherwise be involved with the solicitation of, or do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer in connection with or relating to a Competitive Service or Competitive Service Support. This paragraph is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, or anywhere in the United States or in any foreign country in which Employer or Employers Affiliate are then marketing or selling services, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer. Employee may not avoid the purpose and intent of this paragraph by engaging in conduct within the geographically limited area from a remote location through means such as telecommunications, written correspondence, computer generated or assisted communications, or other similar methods.
Section 3.4 Early Resolution Conference/Employee Notification Obligations. This Agreement is understood to be clear and enforceable as written and is executed by both parties on that basis. However, should Employee later challenge any provision as unclear, unenforceable, or inapplicable to any competitive activity that Employee intends to engage in, Employee will first notify Employer in writing and meet with an Employers representative and a neutral mediator (if Employer elects to retain one at its expense) to discuss resolution of any disputes between the parties. Employee will provide this notification at least 14 days before Employee engages in any activity on behalf of a Competitive Business or engages in other activity that could foreseeably fall within a questioned restriction. The failure to comply with this requirement shall waive Employees right to challenge the reasonable scope, clarity, applicability, or enforceability of the Agreement and its restrictions at a later time. All rights of both parties will be preserved if the Early Resolution Conference requirement is complied with even if no agreement is reached in the conference. Employee further agrees that during the
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 5
term of the restrictions in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, Employee shall promptly inform Employer in writing of the identity of any new employer, the job title of Employees new position and a description of any services to be rendered to that Employer; and, if the new Employer is a Competitive Business, will communicate Employees obligations under this Agreement to each new employer, which shall include providing each new employer with a copy of this Agreement.
4. | A RTICLE F OUR : I NVENTIONS |
Section 4.1 Disclosure . During and after Employees employment, Employee shall promptly and completely disclose, in writing, to Employer or its designee all conceived or developed Inventions, as defined in this Agreement.
Section 4.2 Ownership of Inventions. Any and all Inventions shall be the absolute property of Employer or its designees. Employers ownership in and to such Inventions shall vest without regard to Employees conception or development of the Inventions during or outside regular business hours, on or off Employers premises, or with or without the use of Employers resources or materials. During employment and as necessary thereafter, Employee shall assist Employer to obtain, perfect and maintain all intellectual property rights covering such intellectual property that Employer seeks to protect, and shall execute all documents and do all things necessary to obtain for Employer all such intellectual property rights.
Section 4.3 Patents. Upon Employers request and at Employers expense, Employee agrees to make application in due form for United States letters patents or foreign letters patents or the like ( Patents ) that claim, register or disclose Inventions, in whole or in part. Employee further agrees to assign to Employer all right, title, and interest in and to any Patent application and any Patent that may result. To this end, Employee agrees to execute any and all instruments and do any and all acts necessary or desirable in connection with filing a Patent application and perfecting Employers entire right, title, and interest in and to such Patent application and any resulting Patent. To maintain or further Employers rights, title, and interest in a Patent, Employee further agrees, both during and after his employment with Employer, to execute any and all instruments and do any and all acts necessary or desirable (including giving testimony in support of Employees inventorship) in connection with any continuations, reissues, reexaminations or the like, or in the conduct of any related proceedings or litigation.
Section 4.4 Copyrights. Employee acknowledges that Employer shall be the copyright proprietor of all copyrighted works created or developed by Employee, whether solely or jointly with others, during Employees employment, and such works created pursuant to the performance of Employees duties shall be works for hire. Where a copyrighted work prepared by Employee does not satisfy the statutory requirements of a work for hire, Employee agrees to assign to Employer all right, title, and interest in the copyrighted work.
5. | A RTICLE F IVE : S URVIVAL /E NFORCEMENT OF C OVENANTS . |
Section 5.1 Conditions Precedent. Any monetary payments of any kind, including but not limited to, compensation, wages, separation pay or bonuses by Employer to Employee is expressly conditioned upon Employees compliance with the restrictive covenants in this Agreement.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 6
Section 5.2 Remedies. In the event of breach or threatened breach by Employee of any provision of this Agreement, Employer shall be entitled to (i) injunctive relief by temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, and/or permanent injunction, (ii) recovery of all attorneys fees and costs incurred by Employer in obtaining such relief, and (iii) any other legal and equitable relief to which Employer may be entitled, including without limitation any and all monetary damages which Employer may incur as a result of said breach or threatened breach. An agreed amount for the bond to be posted if an injunction is sought by Employer is $500. Employer may pursue any remedy available, without limitation, including declaratory relief, concurrently or consecutively in any order as to any breach, violation, or threatened breach or violation, and the pursuit of one such remedy at any time will not be deemed an election of remedies or waiver of the right to pursue any other remedy.
Section 5.3 Survival of Covenants . Each restriction set forth in Articles 2 and 3 hereof shall survive the termination of the Employees employment with Employer. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Employee against Employer, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Employer of any covenant contained in this Agreement. In the event an enforcement remedy is sought under Sections 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3, the time periods provided for in those Sections shall be extended by one day for each day the Employee failed to comply with the restriction at issue.
6. | A RTICLE S IX : R ESTRICTIVE C OVENANTS IN C ERTAIN S TATES / S TATE A DDENDUM |
If this Agreement is deemed by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be subject to the laws of any of the following states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia or Wisconsin, the addendum attached hereto for the applicable State shall be effective; otherwise, none of the addendums will be deemed to be effective. If any of the restrictions in this Agreement are deemed unenforceable under an applicable forums law, including any of the restrictions contained in Articles 2 or 3, the parties expressly agree that such will not affect the enforceability of any of the remaining provisions of the Agreement.
7. | A RTICLE S EVEN : M ISCELLANEOUS |
Section 7.1 Notices. All notices provided for by this Agreement shall be made in writing and delivered either in person, by certified mail, or facsimile:
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EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 7
Section 7.2 Entire Agreement. [ Except as to any prior written intellectual property, non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure covenants or agreements entered into between Employer and Employee, ] [t] his Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, between Employer and Employee relating to the matters herein. No supplement, modification, amendment, or waiver of any of the terms, conditions, or provisions in this Agreement can be made unless they are in writing and signed by both Employer and Employee.
Section 7.3 Parties Bound. This Agreement and the rights and obligations under it shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employer, Employee, and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, however, that Employee may not assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement without the express written consent of Employer.
Section 7.4 Invalid Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced without such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision, and the remaining provisions in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance. Further, if any of the restrictions in Articles 2 or 3 are deemed unenforceable as written, the parties expressly authorize the court or arbitrator to revise, delete, or add to those restrictions to the extent necessary to enforce the intent of the parties and to provide effective protection for Employers goodwill, specialized training, Confidential Information, and other business interests.
Section 7.5 Waiver. Any waiver by Employer of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by Employer to be effective. Any waiver by Employer of a breach of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver by Employer of any different or subsequent breach of this Agreement by Employee.
Section 7.6 Governing Law and Venue. It is the intention of the parties that the laws of the State of Texas should govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws principles. It is stipulated that Texas has a compelling state interest in the subject matter of this Agreement, and that Employee has or will have regular contact with Texas in the performance of this Agreement. The agreed upon venue and personal jurisdiction for the parties on any claims or disputes under this Agreement is Bexar, Texas.
Section 7.7 Section Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 7.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 8
Section 7.9 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR ANY DISPUTE RELATING HERETO. EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.
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EMPLOYEE:
I acknowledge that I have carefully read the foregoing Agreement and understand that it constitutes an enforceable contract between myself and Employer.
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EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 10
CALIFORNIA ADDENDUM
To the extent that California law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
The restrictions contained in Section 3.3 will only be applicable to the extent necessary to protect Employers Trade Secret information to which Employee was exposed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Further, each of the protective covenants contained in the Agreement that constitutes a prohibited non-compete restriction under California law, including the restrictions contained in Section 3.1, will be inapplicable.
COLORADO ADDENDUM
To the extent that Colorado law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
The protective covenants contained in the Agreement, including all of the restrictions contained in Articles 2 and 3, will not be applicable to the extent they are designed to protect Employers goodwill.
If at the time of Employees termination, Employee is not employed as an executive, manager, or officer, or on the professional staff of an executive or manager, then each of the protective covenants of the Agreement, including Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.1 and 3.3, apply only to the extent necessary to protect a trade secret of Employer or Employers Affiliates.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 11
GEORGIA ADDENDUM
To the extent that Georgia law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
1. The restriction set forth in the Agreement regarding the use and disclosure of Confidential Information, including the restrictions contained in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, will be limited to five years from the date of termination of Employees employment, if the Confidential Information is not a trade secret. If the Confidential Information is a trade secret, the restriction will not expire until the Confidential Information loses its status as a trade secret, if ever.
2. The text in Section 3.1 is replaced with the following: Non-Competition . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall not be employed by, supervise, assist, perform services, work, or otherwise engage in activities for a Competitive Business in any capacity that relates to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of any Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section 3.1 shall be geographically limited to the areas or territories within the United States or in any foreign country where Employee sold or promoted such products, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
3. The text in Section 3.3 is replaced with the following: Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers . For one year after termination of employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer for any purpose related to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination; provided that the Restricted Customer is a customer of Employer at the time of the prohibited solicitation or contact and to which Employee directly sold or promoted products on behalf of Employer during the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 12
LOUISIANA ADDENDUM
To the extent that Louisiana law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
If any of the protective covenants contained in the Agreement, including any of the restrictions set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 restrict activity in Louisiana, they will apply only in those Louisiana parishes listed below in which Employer or any of Employers Affiliates conduct business at the time of the restricted activity and within the year prior to Employees termination of employment with Employer.
Acadia Parish | Madison Parish | |
Allen Parish | Morehouse Parish | |
Ascension Parish | Natchitoches Parish | |
Assumption Parish | Orleans Parish | |
Avoyelles Parish | Ouachita Parish | |
Beauregard Parish | Plaquemines Parish | |
Bienville Parish | Pointe Coupee Parish | |
Bossier Parish | Rapides Parish | |
Caddo Parish | Red River Parish | |
Calcasieu Parish | Richland Parish | |
Caldwell Parish | Sabine Parish | |
Cameron Parish | St. Bernard Parish | |
Catahoula Parish | St. Charles Parish | |
Claiborne Parish | St. Helena Parish | |
Concordia Parish | St. James Parish | |
De Soto Parish | St. John The Baptist Parish | |
East Baton Rouge Parish | St. Landry Parish | |
East Carroll Parish | St. Martin Parish | |
East Feliciana Parish | St. Mary Parish | |
Evangeline Parish | St. Tammany Parish | |
Franklin Parish | Tangipahoa Parish | |
Grant Parish | Tensas Parish | |
Iberia Parish | Terrebonne Parish | |
Iberville Parish | Union Parish | |
Jackson Parish | Vermilion Parish | |
Jefferson Davis Parish | Vernon Parish | |
Jefferson Parish | Washington Parish | |
La Salle Parish | Webster Parish | |
Lafayette Parish | West Baton Rouge Parish | |
Lafourche Parish | West Carroll Parish | |
Lincoln Parish | West Feliciana Parish | |
Livingston Parish | Winn Parish |
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 13
MISSOURI ADDENDUM
To the extent that Missouri law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
If Employee provides only secretarial or clerical services, then none of the restrictions regarding competition, solicitation, or use or disclosure of Trade Secrets or other Confidential Information, including the protective covenants contained in Articles 2 and 3, shall be applicable.
For all other employees, the following modifications apply:
1. The text in Section 3.1 is replaced with the following: Non-Competition . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall not be employed by, supervise, assist, perform services, work, or otherwise engage in activities for a Competitive Business in any capacity that relates to any sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section 3.1 shall be geographically limited to the areas or territories within the United States or in any foreign country where Employee sold or promoted such products, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
2. The text in Section 3.3 is replaced with the following: Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer for any purpose related to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination; provided that the Restricted Customer is a customer of Employer at the time of the prohibited solicitation or contact and to which Employee directly sold or promoted products on behalf of Employer during the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 14
MONTANA ADDENDUM
To the extent that Montana law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
Each of the protective covenants contained in the Agreement that constitutes a prohibited non-compete restriction under Montana law, including the restrictions contained in Section 3.1, will be inapplicable.
NORTH DAKOTA ADDENDUM
To the extent that North Dakota law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
Each of the protective covenants contained in the Agreement that constitutes a prohibited non-compete restriction under North Dakota law, including the restrictions contained in Section 3.1, will be inapplicable.
OREGON ADDENDUM
To the extent that Oregon law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
Section 3.1 shall only be applicable if Employee is a person described in ORS §630.023(3) (an individual engaged in administrative, executive or professional work who performs predominantly intellectual, managerial or creative tasks, exercises discretion and independent judgment and is paid on a salary basis) and receives an annual gross salary and commissions at the time of his or her termination that exceeds the median family income for a four person family as determined by the United State Census Bureau for the most recent year available at the time of the Employees termination.
OKLAHOMA ADDENDUM
To the extent that Oklahoma law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
Each of the restrictions contained in Section 3.1 shall be inapplicable. The text in Section 3.3 is replaced with the following: Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer for any purpose related to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination; provided that the Restricted Customer is a customer of Employer at the time of the prohibited solicitation or contact and to which Employee directly sold or promoted products on behalf of Employer during the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 15
VIRGINIA ADDENDUM
To the extent that Virginia law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
1. The text in Section 3.1 is replaced with the following: Non-Competition . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall not be employed by, supervise, assist, perform services, work, or otherwise engage in activities for a Competitive Business in any capacity that relates to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of any Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section 3.1 shall be geographically limited to the areas or territories within the United States or in any foreign country where Employee sold or promoted such products, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
2. The text in Section 3.3 is replaced with the following: Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer for any purpose related to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination; provided that the Restricted Customer is a customer of Employer at the time of the prohibited solicitation or contact and to which Employee directly sold or promoted products on behalf of Employer during the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 16
WISCONSIN ADDENDUM
To the extent Wisconsin law is deemed to govern this Agreement, the following modifications apply:
1. The text in Section 3.1 is replaced with the following: Non-Competition . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee shall not be employed by, supervise, assist, perform services, work, or otherwise engage in activities for a Competitive Business in any capacity that relates to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of any Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section 3.1 shall be geographically limited to the areas or territories within the United States or in any foreign country where Employee sold or promoted such products, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
2. The text in Section 3.3 is replaced with the following: Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers . Employee agrees that while employed by Employer and for 12 months after the last day of employment, regardless of the reason for termination of employment, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, cause to be solicited, sell to, contact, do or otherwise attempt to do business with a Restricted Customer for any purpose related to the sale, marketing, promotion, design or development of a Competitive Service that is the same or similar to, performs any of the same or similar functions, may be substituted for, or is intended to be or is used for any of the same purposes as any product that Employee directly sold, marketed, promoted, designed or developed in the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination; provided that the Restricted Customer is a customer of Employer at the time of the prohibited solicitation or contact and to which Employee directly sold or promoted products on behalf of Employer during the one year period immediately preceding his or her termination. This Section is geographically limited to wherever any Restricted Customer can be found or is available for solicitation, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of Employers operations and Employees employment with Employer.
DAL:784897.4
EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS AGREEMENT - PAGE 17